Disposable sanitary seat cover

ABSTRACT

A disposable sanitary seat cover includes a base sheet having a seat cover area provided with passages that are adapted for providing an opening through the seat cover area for a child&#39;s legs. Passages are provided on the seat cover area through which a safety belt and/or a child&#39;s legs may be positioned. Advertising on formed on the seat cover.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/237,394 filed Sep. 28, 2005, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/695,659 filed Oct.27, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,959,963, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/226,811 filed Aug. 22, 2002, now U.S.Pat. No. 6,655,734, which claims priority of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/316,436 filed Aug. 30, 2001, the entiredisclosures of which are incorporated herein by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hygiene products, and more particularlyto disposable sanitary seat covers, and methods for making and using thesame.

A recent study by the University of Arizona concluded that shoppingcarts are among the most contaminated objects with which consumersregularly come into contact. Infants, toddlers, and small children oftenaccompany their parents on shopping trips. Frequently, children arerestrained in the child seat of a shopping cart, thereby bringing thechildren into contact with the contaminated surface of the shoppingcart. It would be desirable to limit the child's contact with theshopping cart to reduce the likelihood of illness or disease that mayresult from contact with the contaminated surface of the shopping cart.

In that regard, child seat covers are known in the art. By way ofexample, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,678,888, 6,129,417, 6,237,998, and U.S. DesignPat. No. 423,176 describe various shopping cart seat covers. Similarly,U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,967,606, 6,065,655, and 6,129,418 describe cushions forshopping carts. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,855,412 and 5,829,835 describe diaperbags that convert into shopping cart seat covers. U.S. Pat. Nos.5,641,200, 5,791,732, 5,810,437, 5,848,797, 6,036,264, 6,164,721, and6,224,152 describe various embodiment of seats adapted to be used in orwith shopping carts.

While each of the devices described in the aforementioned patents may beeffective, at least initially, the devices suffer from a number ofdrawbacks. Each of the devices is a multi-use device. Each time thedevice contacts a contaminated surface, the sanitary effectiveness ofthe device is reduced. Ultimately, the device may become as contaminatedas the shopping cart surface, rendering the device ineffective. Inaddition, many of the devices include structural components that makethe devices large, bulky, and difficult to transport. Further, routinewear and tear causes the quality of the product to degrade over time.

Thus, it would be desirable to have a disposable sanitary seat coverthat provides a barrier to the transmission of contaminants between theseat and users of the seat. In addition, because the disposable sanitaryseat cover is replaced each time a new child uses the seat, it would bea further benefit to advertisers to have a removable coupon attached tothe sanitary seat cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address these and other needs, the present invention provides adisposable sanitary seat cover readily adapted for use with public seatfacilities for children, such as child seats in shopping carts or highchairs in restaurants. The present invention also provides methods formaking disposable sanitary seat covers and structures for assembling aplurality of disposable seat covers into a pre-packaged, dispensablepack. Further, the present invention provides a dispenser that may bemounted on a wall or other suitable structure. In one embodiment, aconsumer may remove a seat cover from the dispenser and apply the seatcover to the public seating facility prior to placing the child into theseat. The seat cover reduces contact between the child and the seat,thereby reducing the likelihood that the child will be exposed to anycontaminants on the seat. After use, the seat cover may be removed anddiscarded.

In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a disposablesanitary seat cover comprising a first sheet of material having a frontside and a back side, the sheet defining a seat portion; and an adhesivestrip secured to back side of the material.

In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides apre-packaged, dispensable set of disposable seat covers, comprising aplurality of disposable seat covers, wherein each disposable sanitaryseat cover comprises a first sheet of material having a front side and aback side, the sheet defining a seat portion and means for securing theseat portion to a seat. The plurality of disposable seat covers define acontinuous web of material having a length extending along alongitudinal axis. The continuous web of material may be wound around acentral axis to form a roll, and adjacent seat covers may be separatedby a perforated section to facilitate removal of the sanitary seat coverfrom the web of material.

In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides apre-packaged, dispensable set of disposable seat covers comprising aplurality of disposable seat covers, wherein each disposable sanitaryseat cover comprises a first sheet of material having a front side and aback side, the sheet defining a seat portion and means for securing theseat portion to a seat. The plurality of disposable seat covers may beplaced adjacent one another in a stack.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the invention provides a system fordispensing disposable sanitary seat covers. The system comprises adispenser including a housing defining an interior chamber and at leastone passage in a wall of the housing, and a pre-packaged set ofdisposable seat covers disposed in the interior chamber of the housing,wherein a disposable seat cover may be removed through the at least onepassage in the wall of the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a disposablesanitary seat cover of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a disposablesanitary seat cover of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a disposablesanitary seat cover of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is another top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of adisposable sanitary seat cover of the present invention;

FIGS. 5-6 illustrate a sequence of steps involved in securing anexemplary embodiment of a disposable sanitary seat cover to a shoppingcart seat in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a disposablesanitary seat cover secured to the seat of a shopping cart;

FIG. 8 demonstrates securing an alternate embodiment of a disposablesanitary seat cover to a high-chair; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an exemplary dispenser for use withsanitary seat covers in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-2 are front and back plan views, respectively, of an exemplaryembodiment of a disposable sanitary seat cover in accordance with thepresent invention. Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a disposable sanitary seatcover 10 includes a base sheet 12 of material having a front surface 14and a back, or rear, surface 16. In use, the back surface may bepositioned against the seat being covered, while the front surfacecontacts the user of the cover. It will be appreciated that the terms“front” and “back” are selected arbitrarily; either side may beconsidered the front or the back.

Seat cover 10 includes a seat portion 30 and an optional flap portion 20depending from the seat portion 30. Flap portion 20 may include one ormore removable sections 22 onto which, in practice, coupons or otheruseful consumer information may be printed. Removable section 22 may bea perforated section, such that removable section 22 can be torn fromthe flap portion 20. Alternatively, removable section 22 may beremovably adhered to either the front surface 14 or the rear surface 16of flap section 20, i.e., removable section 22 may be an adhesivesticker. It will be appreciated that seat portion 30 may also includeone or more removable sections for coupons or other consumerinformation.

Seat portion 30 includes a plurality of passages that permit objects topass through the plane of the base sheet 12. In an exemplary embodiment,the passages may be implemented as perforations that permit the user tocreate an aperture in the base sheet 12. In alternate embodiments, thepassages may be formed in the sheet during the manufacturing processand, if necessary, reinforced with stitching or other reinforcingtechniques suitable to the particular material from which base sheet 12is manufactured. Seat portion 30 includes a first passage 32 and asecond passage 34 positioned and dimensioned such that, in use,restraining devices such as a shopping cart's seat belt may be passedthrough the passages 32, 34. In an exemplary embodiment, passages 32, 34measure approximately three inches in length and are formedapproximately eight inches from the edge of the cover. Seat portion 30further includes a third passage 36 and a fourth passage 38 positionedand dimensioned such that, in use, a child's legs may pass through thepassages 36, 38. In an exemplary embodiment, passages 36, 38 are formedas a cross, each line of which measures approximately six inches inlength and are formed approximately ten to twelve inches from the edgeof the cover. While the seat portion 30 depicted in the exemplaryembodiment is substantially circular in plan view, it will beappreciated that the particular shape of the seat portion is notcritical to the present invention, and the seat portion could be formedin other shapes, e.g., rectangle, square, ellipse, oval, etc.

In use, cover 10 may be secured to the shopping cart, high chair, orother underlying seat structure. Several structural features describedherein may be used alone or in combination to secure the seat cover tothe underlying seat. Seat portion 30 may include a fifth passage 40,sixth passage 42, seventh passage 44, and eighth passage 46 positionedand dimensioned to permit the cover 10 to “hook” onto corners of ashopping cart seat or a high-chair. Alternatively, or in addition, cover10 may include an elastic band 50 that may be stitched, adhered orotherwise attached to the cover 10. While the embodiment depicted inFIGS. 1-2 shows a substantially circular elastic band, it will beappreciated that the elastic band may be formed into other shapes, e.g.,rectangle, square, ellipse, oval, etc. Alternatively, or in addition,cover 10 may include one or more adhesive strips 54, 56 that adhere theseat portion 30 to the underlying seat to which the disposable seatcover 10 is secured. Adhesive strips 54, 56 may be covered with ahigh-gloss paper or other suitable cover that may be peeled off prior touse. In addition, the peel strips may be printed with productinformation, including advertising and/or coupons for particularproducts. Preferably, the adhesive strips have a peel strength thatpermits the seat cover to remain secured to the seat in use and readilyremoved when the cover 10 is discarded. Other options for securing theseat cover on the seat include, but are not limited to, usingdrawstrings, snaps, buttons, Velcro, hook-and-eye, ties/strings/laces,clips, zippers, or any combination of these.

The particular dimensions of cover 10 are not critical to the presentinvention. Cover 10 may be produced in a variety of different sizes toaccommodate shopping carts, high chairs, or other seats of differentdimensions. In an exemplary embodiment, the seat section forms a circlehaving a radius of approximately fourteen inches, while the cover sheetmeasures approximately ten inches by twenty-eight inches.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a disposablesanitary seat cover 10 of the present invention. The embodiment depictedin FIG. 3 relies on elastic band 50 to secure the cover 10 to theunderlying seat. Perforated passages 32, 34, 36, and 38 are visible onthe front surface 14 of the base sheet 12. The flap portion 20 dependsfrom the seat portion 30 of cover 10. FIG. 3 illustrates that cover 10,and particularly the front surface 14 of cover 10, presents valuableadvertising space. Thus, cover 10 may come pre-printed with advertisingfor various products and/or services. Removable section 22 may includeadvertising information, e.g., addresses, phone numbers, special offers,product samples, coupons, etc., associated with the product or serviceadvertised on cover 10.

FIG. 4 is another top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of adisposable sanitary seat cover of the present invention that betterillustrates the advertising potential of cover 10. Referring to FIG. 4,the seat portion 30 and the flap portion 20 of seat cover includeadvertising for a particular product. Removable section 22 may include acoupon or other product information as described above.

FIGS. 5-6 illustrate a sequence of steps involved in securing anexemplary embodiment of a disposable sanitary seat cover to a shoppingcart seat in accordance with the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5,a seat cover 10 is positioned to be applied to a shopping cart seat 60.To apply the cover 10 to the seat, a user may simply hook the elasticband to the corners of the frame portion of the shopping cart seat 60,as illustrated in FIG. 6. Alternatively, if the base sheet includespassages 40, 42, 44, and 46, a user may simply hook these passages overthe corners of the frame portion of the shopping cart seat. If cover 10includes adhesive strips 54, 56 then the user may adhere these strips tothe bottom of the shopping cart seat 60. As illustrated in FIG. 6, seatcover 10 provides a barrier between its occupant and the underlyingshopping cart seat 60, thereby reducing contact with the contaminatedsurface of the shopping cart. Advantageously, when a child's legs arepushed through the perforations that define passages 36, 38, the seatcover remains around the child's legs, providing extra protection fromthe surrounding contaminated surface. Other options for passages 32, 34,36, and 38 include, but are not limited to, using no openings (forinfant seats that stores provide and which rest on top of the seatingarea), different shape perforated openings, one large opening for bothlegs, holes with finished or sewn edges, holes with elastic edges(similar to the elastic edging around the whole seat cover), or acombination of sewn, elastic and/or perforated openings.

One embodiment of the Disposable Sanitary seat cover does not have it'sown seatbelt, but provides passages that permit the patron to use anexisting, appropriate seatbelt provided with the shopping cart,highchair, etc. Another embodiment comes with a washable seatbelt thatsecures the child by weaving through the perforated seatbelt opening onone side of the child, around the back of the seating area, back inthrough the perforated seatbelt opening on the other side and fastenedin front of the child. For example, a seatbelt may be provided with apackage of disposable seat covers. The seat belt can use a variety ofclosing/opening fixtures and may be completely washable.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a seat cover 10 printed withadvertising positioned on a shopping cart seat. It will be apparent fromFIG. 7 that cover 10 provides valuable advertising space.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a disposable sanitary seat cover 10 on ahigh-chair representative of the type used in restaurants. Seat cover 10may be secured to the high chair seat in substantially the same manneras described above.

Base sheet 12 may be a substantially planar material formed from, e.g.,a suitable polymer or non-woven fiber material, both of which are widelyused in the hygiene products industry, or a composite or laminatethereof. Suitable polymers include, by way of example, any material thatcan be formed into a film, including, but not limited to, polyolefinsand polyacrylates, as well as copolymers and blends thereof. Specificpolymers include, but are not limited to, polyethylene, low densitypolyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, and ethylene vinylacetate. Other options include inexpensive materials used by themselvesor in combination such as pellon (a non-woven material), fabric, cloth,nylon, latex, Mylar, water resistant or repellant materials, absorbent,padded, antibacterial, or recycled material. These materials can besingle or multi-layered.

The term “non-woven” fiber material refers generally to materials havinga structure of individual fibers or threads that are interlaid, but notin a regular, repetitive manner as in a knitted fabric. Nonwovensprovide cloth-like aesthetics at a lower cost than typical knittedfabrics. Nonwoven fabrics or webs may be formed from many processes suchas for example, meltblowing processes, spunbonding processes, conformingprocesses, spunbonding/meltblowing/spunbonding processes and bondedcarded web processes. These processes are well known in the hygiene,arts, and non-woven materials are readily commercially available. Forexample, non-woven laminates have been available commercially for yearsfrom Kimberly-Clark Corporation under marks such as Spunguard® andEvolution® Base sheet 10 may be substantially liquid impermeable, or maybe liquid-permeable.

Alternatively, base sheet 12 may be made from a material that exhibitselastic properties, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for aseparate elastic member 50. Elastic sheet materials are known in theart. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,207,637 to Haffner discloses anelastic nonwoven web or film manufactured from a thermoplastic polymer.U.S. Pat. No. 6,096,668 discloses an elastic liquid impermeablelaminate. U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,460 discloses a laminate material formedof an elastomeric polymer sheet and a non-woven fabric sheet. Othersuitable elastic sheet materials are known to those skilled in the art.

Cover 10 may be manufactured using conventional web manufacturingprocesses, which are known in the art. For example, the raw materialfrom which base sheet 12 is made may be purchased in bulk, typically ona roll. The roll may be positioned at a first end of a web manufacturingline, and one end of the roll may be attached to a drum at the oppositeend of the line. Perforations 32, 34, 36, 38, and optionally 40, 42, 44,and 46 may be formed in base sheet 12 in a first operation in the webline. In addition, perforations may be formed between adjacent covers inthe line to facilitate the removal of covers from the web. One method ofmechanically aperturing a film is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,294to Morris, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Asdescribed in Morris, a supply of film is brought into pressure contactwith a plurality of pins or needles mounted on a rotatable roll. Thepins are then withdrawn from the film, leaving the desired apertures.Other methods of aperturing films and other materials include theprocess of vacuum aperturing films described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,135to Thompson; the process of aperturing meltblown nonwovens described inU.S. Pat. No. 4,469,734 to Minto; and the process of aperturing filmsand other substrates described in German Patent No. 26 14 160 to Endlerand in European Patent Application No. 0 598 970 A1 to Giacometti.

Optionally, elastic band 50 may be applied at a second position in theweb manufacturing line. Elastic band 50 may be adhered, stitched, orotherwise connected to the base sheet 12. Methods for attaching elasticto continuous webs are known in the web manufacturing arts. For example,U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,197,138 and 6,382,290 discloses a machine and processfor bonding an elastic member to a moving substrate web while theelastic member is in an un-stretched condition. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No.5,500,063 discloses a method for joining an elastic band to acontinuously moving, partially elastic substrate.

Optionally, adhesive strips 54, 56 may be applied in a third operationin the manufacturing process. Adhesive strips 54, 56 may be applied incontinuous strips during the manufacturing process.

Optionally, information may be printed on the front and/or back surfaceof base sheet 10 in a fourth operation in the manufacturing process.Printing processes for web-based manufacturing processes are known inthe art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,859 discloses a process forlatex printing on fabrics. Other suitable printing processes includeink-jet printing processes and lithographic printing processes.

The particular order in which the operations are conducted in themanufacturing process are not critical to the present invention. It willbe appreciated that the order of the operations may be altered, or thatcertain operations may be omitted. Also, it will be appreciated that acontinuous web-based manufacturing process is not required; covers inaccordance with the present invention could be made in a piece-by-pieceprocess.

A plurality of disposable seat covers in accordance with the presentinvention may be pre-packaged for distribution to consumers. In anexemplary embodiment, a continuous web comprising a plurality of seatcovers may be wound about a central axis or a core into a roll fordistribution. In an alternate embodiment, a plurality of disposable webcovers may be placed adjacent one another in a stack in a package fordistribution. Portions of the seat covers in the stack may beinterleaved to facilitate their removal from the package, analogous tothe manner in which tissues are removed from a box.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an exemplary dispenser for distributingdisposable sanitary seat covers in accordance with the presentinvention. Dispenser may be a wall-mountable housing 70 defining aninterior chamber and having an aperture 72 located in one of the wallsof the housing, through which disposable seat covers 10 located in theinterior chamber of the housing 72 may be dispensed. In use, a consumerremoves a disposable seat cover from the housing and applies it to aseat, as indicated in FIGS. 5-6.

In alternate embodiments cover 10 may be formed from a multi-layeredconstruction. For example, the base sheet may be a first layer, and aseparate top sheet may be applied to define all or a part of the seatingarea. In addition pockets may be formed on the corners to facilitatesecuring the cover to the underlying seat.

It is noted that the embodiment of the disposable sanitary seat coverdescribed herein in detail for exemplary purposes is of course subjectto many different variations in structure, design, application andmethodology. Because many varying and different embodiments may be madewithin the scope of the inventive concept(s) herein taught, and becausemany modifications may be made in the embodiment herein detailed inaccordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to beunderstood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

1. A disposable sanitary seat cover, comprising: a first sheet ofmaterial having a front side and a back side, the sheet defining a seatportion having a plurality of passageways formed therethrough, adaptedto permit a child's legs to pass through said sheet and/or adapted topermit a restraining device to pass through said sheet; and advertisingformed on the front side of said sheet.
 2. The disposable sanitary seatcover of claim 1, comprising a means for securing the cover to anunderlying seat structure.
 3. The disposable sanitary seat cover ofclaim 1, comprising an adhesive strip secured to the back side of thefirst sheet of material.
 4. The disposable sanitary seat cover of claim1, wherein the plurality of passageways includes a third passage and afourth passage, wherein the third and fourth passages are adapted topermit a child's legs to pass through the first sheet.
 5. The disposablesanitary cover of claim 1, wherein the plurality of passageswaysincludes a first passage and a second passage, wherein the first andsecond passages are adapted to permit the restraining device to passthrough the first sheet.
 6. The disposable sanitary cover of claim 5,wherein the restraining device is a seat belt for a shopping cart. 7.The disposable sanitary cover of claim 5, wherein the restraining devicesecures the cover to a high chair.
 8. The disposable sanitary seat coverof claim 1, wherein a plurality of said seat covers define a continuousweb of material and adjacent seat covers are separated by a perforationto facilitate removal of the sanitary seat cover from the web ofmaterial.
 9. The disposable sanitary seat cover of claim 8, wherein theplurality of said seat covers are prepackaged.
 10. The disposablesanitary seat cover of claim 9, wherein the prepackaged plurality ofseat covers are sized to fit in a dispenser and adapted for removal ofindividual seat covers.
 11. The disposable sanitary seat cover of claim3, wherein a plurality of said seat covers define a continuous web ofmaterial and adjacent seat covers are separated by a perforation tofacilitate removal of the sanitary seat cover from the web of material.12. The disposable sanitary seat cover of claim 11, wherein theplurality of said seat covers are prepackaged.
 13. The disposablesanitary seat cover of claim 12, wherein the prepackaged plurality ofseat covers are sized to fit in a dispenser and adapted for removal ofindividual seat covers.
 14. The disposable sanitary seat cover of claim6, wherein a plurality of said seat covers define a continuous web ofmaterial and adjacent seat covers are separated by a perforation tofacilitate removal of the sanitary seat cover from the web of material.15. The disposable sanitary seat cover of claim 14, wherein theplurality of said seat covers are prepackaged.
 16. The disposablesanitary seat cover of claim 15, wherein the prepackaged plurality ofseat covers are sized to fit in a dispenser and adapted for removal ofindividual seat covers.
 17. The disposable sanitary seat cover of claim7, wherein a plurality of said seat covers define a continuous web ofmaterial and adjacent seat covers are separated by a perforation tofacilitate removal of the sanitary seat cover from the web of material.18. The disposable sanitary seat cover of claim 17, wherein theplurality of said seat covers are prepackaged.
 19. The disposablesanitary seat cover of claim 18, wherein the prepackaged plurality ofseat covers are sized to fit in a dispenser and adapted for removal ofindividual seat covers.